Modular table lamp

ABSTRACT

A kit constituted by a set of modules which may be compactly packaged and shipped in flat form, and which may be readily assembled to create a table lamp having a box-like shade whose corners are supported on straight legs. The kit includes a set of four modules, each composed of a translucent panel, one edge of which is joined to a post whose length is greater than the length of the panel, the post having a longitudinal groove therein adapted to receive the free edge of the panel of an adjoining module whereby when assembled, the four modules define a box-like shade supported on corner posts. To complete the assembly, four legs are provided, each of which is adapted to slide over a post and to engage a longitudinal bead formed on the adjoining panel adjacent the free edge thereof, whereby each leg serves to lock the associated module post to the adjoining panel.

United States Patent Shatan [451 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] MODULAR TABLE LAMP David M. Shatan, 490 Bleeker Ave., Mamaroneck, NY. 10543 [22] Filed: April 23, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 136,728

[72] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 240/81 C, 240/108, 240/145 [5 1] Int. Cl. ..F21s 1/12, F2ls 3/10 [58] Field of Search ..240/2, 36, 81 C, 108, 145

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,280,324 10/1966 Peter ..240/36 3,222,517 12/1965 Peter ..240/ 108 R 3,175,078 3/ 1965 Haywood ..240/36 X 2,792,491 5/1957 Rand ..240/36 X Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Wintercom Attorney-Michael Ebert [57] ABS TRACT A kit constituted by a set of modules which may be compactly packaged and shipped in flat form, and which may be readily assembled to create a table lamp having a box-like shade whose comers are supported on straight legs. The kit includes a set of four modules, each composed of a translucent panel, one edge of which is joined to a post whose length is greater than the length of the panel, the post having a longitudinal groove therein adapted to receive the free edge of the panel of an adjoining module whereby when assembled, the four modules define a box-like shade supported on comer posts. To complete the assembly,

four legs are provided, each of which is adapted to slide over a post and to engage a longitudinal bead formed on the adjoining panel adjacent the free edge thereof, whereby each leg serves to lock the associated module post to the adjoining panel.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 5 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 IN VENTOR. 0/! W0 3 9477 Arm/s ay PATENTEDSEP. 1m 3.689.762

lln 'llllllllll 04 we SHA m MODULAR TABLE LAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to table lamps, and more particularly to a lamp kit constituted by a set of modules which may be compactly packaged and shipped in flat form and which, when unpacked, may be readily assembled to create an attractive table lamp having a relatively large volume.

Regardless of its design, the usual table lamp consists of a bulb-socket supported above the table surface by a pedestal, legs or other means serving to maintain the socket at a raised position, the bulb-socket being surrounded by a shade to soften or diffuse the light emitted by the bulb. Y

The tendency in contemporary lamp design is toward extreme simplicity and the avoidance of ornamentation. Use is often made of fundamental geometric forms, such as the sphere and the cube. Thus one highly popular form of modern table lamp is constituted by a translucent, open-ended box-like form supported at its four corners by straight legs, the lamp socket being mounted within the box-like form.

A table lamp having a box-like form, as above described, because of its severe, somewhat Japanese design motif, may be placed in virtually any room in the modern home, for it blends with both living and bedroom furnishings and yet is also suitable for a childs playroom, in that its basic geometry is compatible with most contemporary designs.

Despite the simplicity of this table lamp design and the absence of ornamental detail, the lamp as heretofore produced, has nevertheless been relatively expensive. The reason for this is that the ultimate cost to the consumer must take into account not only the cost of manufacture, but also the over-all volume of the lamp. The lamp volume is the main factor determining the cost of packaging, storage and shipment.

Assuming for example a table lamp having a box-like form whose cross-sectional dimensions are 1 foot by 1 foot and whose length is 2 feet, this required a packaging container of somewhat larger dimensions to make allowance for cushioning material to protect the lamp within its package. Hence the over-all volume of the package is quite large, as a consequence of which, storage and shipment costs are high and give rise to a substantial retail price which appears to be inordinately high for a simple table lamp design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is the main object of this invention to provide a table lamp kit constituted by a set of modules which may be compactly packaged and shipped in flat form and which, when unpacked, may be readily assembled to create an attractive table lamp of relatively large volume.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a lamp of the above-described type wherein the modules are all identical, and when put together create a box-like shade of translucent panels supported on posts, the modules being latched together by means of legs which are received on the posts.

Also an object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive lamp kit which may be manufactured and sold at low cost, for not only do the components of the kit lend themselves to cheap mass production, but the compact nature of the kit sharply reduces packaging, storage and shipping costs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a kit whose components may be assembled easily and without the use of tools.

Briefly stated, these objects are accomplished by a set of four identical modules, each composed of a translucent panel, one edge of which is joined to a post whose length is greater than that of the panel, the post having a longitudinal groove therein adapted to receive the free edge of the panel of an adjoining module, whereby when assembled the four modules define a box-like shade supported on corner posts.

To complete the assembly, four channel-type legs are provided, the legs being adapted to slide over the post and to engage a longitudinal bead formed on the panel of the adjoining module adjacent the free edge thereof, whereby each leg serves to lock the associated module post to the panel of the adjoining module.

OUTLINE OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled table lamp in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lamp;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken through the plane indicated by lines 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the lamp assembly;

FIG. 5 is a section taken through one of the posts of the modules; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken through the lamp bracket in the plane indicated by lines 66 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown assembled table lamp in accordance with the invention, the components of the lamp including a set of four identical modules, M ,M M M and a set of four identical legs, L L L and L.,

As best seen in FIG. 4, each module is constituted by a translucent rectangular panel 10, one edge of which is integral with a post 11 whose length is greater than that of the panel to define a flag-like structure. These onepiece modules, which are all alike, may be molded or otherwise fabricated of translucent plastic material of styrene, nylon or other plastic having acceptable mechanical and optical properties.

Legs L L L and L, which slide over the correspondingly numbered posts, serve to hold the modules together to define the desired box-like form. Bridged across opposing panels at the lower ends thereof is a bracket 12, and mounted thereon is a lamp socket 13 which is held to the bracket by a nut 14.

Screwed into socket 13 is an electric light bulb 15, power thereto being supplied by an electric line 16. Socket 13 is provided with a switch 17, whose rotatable actuator projects axially below the socket.

On the top of each post 11 is a small square pad of capital 18 below which is a longitudinally-extending groove 19 that runs the length of panel 10 joined to the post and is at right angles to the plane of the panel. The post groove 19 is dimensioned to receive the free edge of the panel of the adjoining module, which free edge is broadened by a strip projecting laterally from the inner surface of the free edge and reinforced by spaced ribs 21. Formed adjacent the free edge of the panel and projecting laterally from the outer surface of the panel is a longitudinallyextending bead 22. When the free edge of the panel is inserted in groove 19, bead 22 abuts the post.

Thus as shown in FIG. 3, the free edge of panel 10 of module M is received in groove 19in post 11 of module M while the free edge of panel 10 of module M is received in groove 19 in post 11 of module M the free edge of whose panel 10 is received in groove 19 in post 11 of module M whose panel 10 has its free edge received in groove 19 in post 11 of module M,

In order to hold the assembly together, the channeltype legs L, to L, are slid over the posts of modules M to M The legs have a V-shaped channel formation, one side of which is provided with flange 23 which is received in the junction between post 11 and panel 10, the other side having a flange 24 which engages bead 22 and thereby prevents withdrawal of the free edge of the panel from the post groove. Thus when the legs are 'telescoped over the posts and engage the beads on the panels, the modules are together.

Each module is provided centrally at its lower edge on the inner surface thereof with a small ledge adapted to receive one end of the bracket 12. Hence in assembling the lamp, after the modules are brought together and fitted with legs, one bridges the bracket between the ledges 25 on opposing panels. Although there are four ledges, since all modules are identical, only a pair thereof need be used.

To complete the assembly, one has merely to insert the shank 26 in a central hole 12A in bracket 12 and thread the nut 10 on the shank to secure the socket in place.

Because of the flag-shaped modules, the entire assembly may be packaged in flat form, with the modules stacked one above the other. In this way, a highly compact package is produced, thereby reducing packaging, storage and shipping costs considerably.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the modular table lamp, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made therein, without, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A kit for producing a table lamp having an openended, box-like shade supported at its corners on legs, said kit comprising:

A. a set of four identical modules, each including a panel, one edge of which is joined to a post whose length is greater than that of the panel to define a flag-like structure, said post having a longitudinal groove therein substantially co-extensive with the edge of the panel and at right angles thereto, said groove accommodating the free edge of the panel of an adjoining module whereby the four modules may be interconnected to define said box-like shade, each panel having a longitudinal bead adjacent the free edge thereof,

B. a set of four identical legs, each of which is telescopable on a respective one of said posts,

each le being rovided with a flange adapted to engage e bea ,on the panel whose free edge is received in the groove 'on the associated post to thereby latch said free edge thereto, and

C. a bracket to support a lamp socket within said box-like shade, said modules being formed from translucent plastic material and said panel being integral with said post.

2. A kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said free edge of each panel is broadened by a strip extending laterally from the inner surface thereof, the bead adjacent said free edge projecting laterally from the outer surface of the panel.

3. A kit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said strip is reinforced by a series of spaced ribs formed on the inner surface of the panel.

4. A kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein each panel is provided at its inner surface adjacent the lower and thereof with a ledge adapted to support one end of said bracket so that the bracket may be bridged between opposing panels.

5. A kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bracket is provided with a midpoint opening to receive the threaded shank of said lamp socket, whereby said socket may be secured to said bracket by a nut received on said shank. 

1. A kit for producing a table lamp having an open-ended, boxlike shade supported at its corners on legs, said kit comprising: A. a set of four identical modules, each including a panel, one edge of which is joined to a post whose length is greater than that of the panel to define a flag-like structure, said post having a longitudinal groove therein substantially co-extensive with the edge of the panel and at right angles thereto, said groove accommodating the free edge of the panel of an adjoining module whereby the four modules may be interconnected to define said box-like shade, each panel having a longitudinal bead adjacent the free edge thereof, B. a set of four identical legs, each of which is telescopable on a respective one of said posts, each leg being provided with a flange adapted to engage the bead on the panel whose free edge is received in the groove on the associated post to thereby latch said free edge thereto, and C. a bracket to support a lamp socket within said box-like shade, said modules being formed from translucent plastic material and said panel being integral with said post.
 2. A kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said free edge of each panel is broadened by a strip extending laterally from the inner surface thereof, the bead adjacent said free edge projecting laterally from the outer surface of the panel.
 3. A kit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said strip is reinforced by a series of spaced ribs formed on the inner surface of the panel.
 4. A kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein each panel is provided at its inner surface adjacent the lower and thereof with a ledge adapted to support one end of said bracket so that the bracket may be bridged between opposing panels.
 5. A kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bracket is provided with a midpoint opening to receive the threaded shank of said lamp socket, whereby said socket may be secured to said bracket by a nut received on said shank. 